Hi Louie,Nice sound on the toms ! I'm guessing you're using emperors or similar ?I saw on your first post you talked about using Pearl thin shells and now with those lovely Gretschs what head combo brings out the best overall sound ? Do you use anything to slightly deaden them ? And lastly .. it sounds like you tune them to a scale or particular notes ... Any tips ?Love your videos and the new site. Will be signing up as soon as I've moved house.

I had a nightmare with Pearl drums...multiple kits sent to me with major defects. I decided to try a few different loaner kits and go through the brands to really see what everything was like (i'd already owned a Yamaha and Sonor by then) but the first kit I was given was a Gretsch (belonging to someone who's rather popular on this forum!) and it was and still is the best kit I have ever heard (and it was apparently not customised). The Gretsch I ordered is great but doesn't sound quite as good as that one...they do vary a little. But there is something unique about the Gretsch thing...there is a woody/throaty sound to the middle of the note which no Japanese/Chinese drums have.

I just use coated ambassadors...can never go wrong with those...unless I need a specific sound for recording it's always CA's...no deadening anywhere and I don't tune to any scale or reference...just whatever sounds good for the room and each drum! Not a fan of the feel of double ply heads...especially playing traditional grip.

LP drums wrote:The Gretsch I ordered is great but doesn't sound quite as good as that one...they do vary a little.

Give them time. They will sound better and better as time passes.

And once again, let me chime in with some praise too... Very nice playing Louie!!!

You're probably right because the nitrocellulose is not as initially hard as say, a polyurethene, but nitrocellulose should get much harder than poly could over time...but forget all that if you have a wrap or Satin. Peace.